Hoist and supplemental support system

ABSTRACT

A support assembly comprises a bracket, a blocking member, and a spring. The blocking member is adapted to slidingly move within a through opening of a support member. The blocking member is adapted to be selectively moved from a supporting position to a non-supporting position. The spring is adapted to bias the blocking member towards the non-supporting position. In certain embodiments, the bracket is adapted to retain the blocking member at least partially within the through opening when the bracket is mounted to a hoist. In certain embodiments, the blocking member comprises a handle comprising a pin axially aligned within a compression spring and the bracket comprises a notch adapted to receive the handle.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 17/009.201, filed Sep. 1, 2020, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference and of which Applicant claims thebenefit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to power hoists and more specifically to alow or minimum profile hoist and supplemental support system adapted toprevent the hoist from collapsing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lifts or hoists are used in a variety of applications, including, for,example, use in dump truck bodies. There are a number of hoist typesknown in the art, including scissor type hoists and telescopic hoists.The scissor type hoist provides great stability but is less efficientthan the telescopic hoist. The telescopic hoist, though more efficientand, in many cases, more powerful, is less stable than the scissor typehoist, particularly when lifting uneven loads. Combination hoists weredeveloped to take advantage of the stability of scissor variety hoistsand the strength of the telescopic hoists. Combination hoists generallycomprise an upper frame assembly pivotally coupled to a lower frameassembly, and one or more hydraulic arms extending from a base to theupper arm. Extension of the hydraulic arms results in the raising of thelower and upper frames, which in turn causes the raising of the bed ofthe dump trailer. Conversely, lowering the lower and upper framesinvolves retracting the hydraulic arm or arms.

As long as sufficient hydraulic pressure is maintained within thehydraulic system, the dump bed or other object being supported willremain in an extended position. However, hydraulic systems can losehydraulic pressure either intentionally or accidentally. When hydraulicpressure is released from the lifting portion of the hoist, the lowerand upper frames will lower and begin to collapse. A sudden release ofsuch hydraulic pressure can result in a sudden collapse of the hoistthat can result in severe injury of death.

What is needed is a simple and reliable system that will prevent a hoistfrom collapsing upon the release of hydraulic pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hoist generally comprises a base, lower arms, upper arms, hydrauliccylinder assembly, upper arms crossmember, and one or supplementalsupport systems. The base is adapted to be coupled to a frame of avehicle such as a dump truck. Pivotally coupled to the base are lowerarms and the hydraulic cylinder assembly. In the preferred embodiment, abase axle is threaded through openings in lower arm proximal ends and ahydraulic cylinder lower retainer. Pivotally coupled to distal ends ofthe lower arms are respective upper arms. The upper arms of thepreferred embodiment are stabilized by upper arms crossmember whichspans across upper ends of the upper arms and bushing which spansbetween lower ends of the upper arms. An arm axle threads through lowerarm upper through openings and upper arm lower through openings.

The one or more supplemental support systems each comprise a bracket, ablocking member/pin, a spring and a pin handle. The pin is adapted to beslidingly positioned within a pin through opening in the lower arm, andin some embodiments, through a central bracket through opening. Thebracket of the preferred embodiment is adapted to extend orthogonallyfrom an outside portion of the lower arm and comprises an angular “U”configuration. In other embodiments, the bracket comprises a closedrectangular configuration. In angular “U” configuration embodiments,legs of the bracket are directly connected to the outside portion of thelower arm. In closed rectangular configuration embodiments, a distalshort side of the rectangle is closed and comprises the central bracketthrough opening through which the pin is adapted to slidingly move.Thus, the supplemental support system is adapted be either built intothe hoist or serve as an accessory that can be added to a conventionalhoist as an accessory.

The pin handle extends orthogonally from an outside end of the pin. Thespring of the preferred embodiment is an open coil helical compressionspring. The spring surrounds a portion of the pin. With thisconfiguration, legs of the bracket are coupled to the outside portion ofthe lower arm such that the bracket legs straddle the pin positioned inthe pin through opening and the spring. The bracket further comprises anotch adapted to receive the pin handle when the pin is in a supportingposition. The pin is adapted to slide within the pin through openingsuch that, when the pin is in the supporting position, a distal end ofpin is positioned beneath upper arm.

The hydraulic cylinder assembly comprises a barrel and a piston rod, thepiston rod being adapted to extend and retract. The piston rod isstructured and arranged to be removeably coupled with a rod receiverportion. A rod receiver crossmember is pivotally coupled to upper armsvia rod receiver crossmember axle such that the rod receiver portion isaxially aligned with the rod receiver crossmember when coupled with therod receiver crossmember.

In preferred embodiments, the upper arm comprises a pad. This pad ispositioned between the distal end of pin and upper arm when the pin isin the supporting position.

In preferred embodiments, the hoist comprises tubular lower arms andupper arms.

In preferred embodiments the supplemental support system is coupled toan upper leg such that the pin, in the supporting position rests againstthe lower leg.

In preferred embodiments, the hoist and supplemental support are formedfrom heavy duty steel adapted to withstand heavy loads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and right-side isometric view of the hoist in aretracted condition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front and right-side isometric view of the hoist in anextended condition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front and right-side isometric view of the supplementalsupport system portions of the hoist of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the pins inthe supporting position.

FIG. 4 is a front and left-side isometric view of the supplementalsupport system portions of the hoist of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the pins inthe non-supporting position.

FIG. 5 is close up view of the right pin latch assembly of FIGS. 1-4 .

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the handle of the supplemental supportsystem in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the supplemental support system inaccordance with a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 , & 7, there is shown the hoist 12 andsupplemental support system 14 in accordance with preferred embodiments.As used herein, the terms “a” or “an” shall mean one or more than one.The term “plurality” shall mean two or more than two. The term “another”is defined as a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”are open ended (e.g., comprising). The term “or” as used herein is to beinterpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination.Therefore, “A, B or C” means “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; Aand C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occuronly when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are insome way inherently mutually exclusive.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certainembodiments,” “an embodiment,” or similar term means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or moreembodiments without limitation. The detailed description illustrates byway of example, not by way of limitation, the principles of theinvention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the artto make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments,adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention,including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying outthe invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hoist 12 generally comprises a base 18,lower arms 20, upper arms 22, hydraulic cylinder assembly 24, upper armscrossmember 26, and one or more supplemental support systems 14. Thebase 18 is adapted to be mounted to a frame 16, such as the frame 16 ofa vehicle comprising, for example, a rectangular frame 16 configurationand one or more frame 16 crossmembers 56.

Pivotally coupled to the base 18 are lower arms 20, 20 and the hydrauliccylinder assembly 24. In the preferred embodiment, a base axle 32 isthreaded through openings (not shown) in lower arm proximal ends 36 anda hydraulic cylinder lower retainer 34. Pivotally coupled to distal ends38 of the lower arms 20, 20 are respective upper arms 22, 22. The upperarms 22, 22 of the preferred embodiment are stabilized by upper armscrossmember 26 which spans across upper ends of the upper arms 22, 22and further stabilized by a bushing 66 which spans between lower ends ofthe upper arms 22, 22. An arm axle 30 threads through lower arm upperthrough openings 68 and upper arm lower through openings 70. Thecrossmember comprises a crossmember through opening 72 adapted toreceive a crossmember axle (not shown) that can be mounted between framemembers of a truck bed (not shown).

In the preferred embodiment, each lower arm 20, 20 comprises an angle 70such that each lower arm 20, 20 is not straight. Rather, the distal end38 of each lower arm 20, 20 extends downward relative to longitudinalaxis of the lower arm 20. Each lower arm 20, 20 further comprises atapering configuration such that each lower arm 20, 20 is narrower inside profile nearer the proximal end 36 than more distal to the proximalend 36. Each upper arm 22, 22 of the preferred embodiment comprises atapering configuration such that each upper arm 22, 22 is narrower inside profile nearer the upper arms crossmember 26 than farther from theupper arms crossmember 26.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, and 7 , the one or more supplemental supportsystems 14 each comprise bracket 40, blocking member 44 (hereinafterreferred to as pin 44), spring 46 and pin handle 42. The pin 44 isadapted to be slidingly positioned within a pin through opening 48 inthe lower arm 20. Referring to FIG. 6 , the handle 42 of certainembodiments is a handle 42 comprising slot 78 adapted to receive a shim(not shown) adapted to maintain the handle 42 in position within the pin44. The bracket 40 of the preferred embodiment is adapted to extendorthogonally from an outside portion of the lower arm 20, 20 andcomprises a “U” bracket 40 comprising an angular “U” configuration. Inother embodiments, the bracket 40 comprises a closed rectangularconfiguration. In angular “U” configuration embodiments, legs 50, 51 ofthe bracket 40 are directly connected to an outside portion of the lowerarm 20. In closed rectangular configuration embodiments of the bracket40, a distal short side of the rectangle is closed and comprises acentral bracket through opening through which the pin 44 is adapted toslidingly move. Thus, the supplemental support system 14 is adapted beeither and built into the hoist 12 or serve as an accessory that can beadded to a conventional hoist.

The pin handle 42 extends orthogonally from an outside end portion ofthe pin 44. In preferred embodiments, the pin handle 42 extends throughopposite sides of the pin 44. With this configuration, the spring 46 isretained in general axial alignment with the pin 44. In alternativeembodiments, two pin handles 42, 42 can be arranged such that no throughpin opening is necessary.

The spring 46 of the preferred embodiment is an open coil helicalcompression spring 46. In some embodiments, the spring 46 may have atorsion component. The spring 46 surrounds a portion of pin 44. Thespring 46 biases the pin 44 towards an end portion 74 of bracket 40. Thetorsion attributes of the spring 46 of certain embodiments rotationallybiases the pin handle 42 upwards toward a bracket leg 51 comprising anotch 76.

The end portion 74 and pin through opening 48 retain the pin 44 in axialalignment with the pin through opening 48. With this configuration, thelegs 50, 51 of the bracket 40 are coupled to the outside portion of thelower arm 20 such that the bracket legs 50, 51 straddle the pin 44positioned in the pin through opening 48 and spring 46.

The notch 76 of the bracket 40 is adapted to receive the pin handle 42when the pin 44 is in a supporting position, as shown, for example, inFIG. 3 . The pin 44 is adapted to slide within pin through opening 48such that, when the pin 44 is in the supporting position a distal end 62of pin 44 is positioned beneath upper arm 22 and when the pin 44 is in anon-supporting position, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4 , the distalend 62 of the pin 44 is adjacent to the lower arm 20 and out of a pathof downward movement of the upper arm 22.

In preferred embodiments, the upper arm 22 comprises a pad 64. This pad64 is positioned between the distal end 62 of pin 44 and upper arm 22when the pin 44 is in the supporting position.

The hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 comprises a barrel 66 and a pistonrod 52, the piston rod 52 being adapted to extend and retract in amanner well known in the art. The piston rod 52 is structured andarranged to be removeably coupled with rod receiver portion 54 (thepiston rod 52 and rod receiver portion 54 shown in an uncoupledcondition in FIGS. 2-4 ). Rod receiver crossmember 58 is pivotallycoupled to upper arms 22, 22 via rod receiver crossmember axle 60 (FIG.3 ) such that the rod receiver portion 54 is axially aligned with therod receiver crossmember 58 when coupled with the rod receivercrossmember 58.

Although a hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 is described herein as theassembly used to move the hoist 12 to and between the positionsdescribed herein, other lifting assemblies may be used. For example,pneumatic systems well known in the art can be substituted for theelements of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 and used to cause theupper and lower arms 22, 22, 20, 20 to be moved.

The hoist 12 comprises a retracted condition, as shown, for example, inFIG. 1 and an extended condition, as shown, for example in FIG. 2 . Inthe retracted condition, the lower arms 20, 20 are positioned such thatthe lower arm distal ends 38 are adjacent to an inside portion of theframe 16 and the upper arms crossmember 26 is adjacent to the base 18.In the extended condition, the lower arms 20, 20 are positioned suchthat the lower arm distal ends 38 are above the frame 16 and the upperarms crossmember 26 is raised well above the base 18.

Although the drawings depict several components of the hoist 12 as beingangular, the hoist 12 need not comprise angular components. For example,the base 18, lower arms 20, 20 and upper arms 22, 22 can comprisetubular elements.

Although in the preferred embodiment, the supplemental support systems14 are coupled to respective lower legs 20, 20, the supplemental supportsystem 14 need not be so coupled. Rather, in other embodiments, thesupplemental support system 14 may be coupled to one or both upper legs22, 22 such that the pin 44, in the supporting position rests againstthe lower leg 20, 20.

In preferred embodiments, the hoist 12 and supplemental support 14 areformed from heavy duty steel adapted to withstand heavy loads. However,the hoist 12 can be font' from any suitable material known in the artand need not be constructed from steel.

The use of the hoist 12 and supplemental support systems 14 will now bediscussed. The hoist 12 is adapted to be mounted to a truck frame 16 andtruck bed. In preferred embodiments, the base 18 is mounted to the truckframe 16 and the upper arms crossmember 26 is pivotally mounted to acrossmember axle spanning between support members of the truck bed. Thehydraulic cylinder assembly 24 is operatively connected to a source ofhydraulic fluid and a pump structured and arranged to move such fluidinto and out of the barrel 66 and otherwise activate the hoist 12 asrequired by a user.

With the hoist 12 in the retracted position such that the truck bed isgenerally parallel to the truck frame 16, the user, by activating thehydraulic fluid pump, can cause fluid to enter the barrel of thehydraulic cylinder assembly 24. Such entry of fluid causes the pistonrod 52 to extend which, in turn, causes the hoist 12 to move from theretracted condition depicted in FIG. 1 to the extended conditiondepicted in FIG. 2 . This movement causes the truck bed to move upwardso as to permit, for example, the user to dump contents of the truckbed.

With the hoist 12 in such extended condition, the user may then, graspthe pin handle 42 of each spring assisted pin support system 14 and movethe pins 44 from the non-supporting positions depicted in FIG. 4 to thesupporting positions of FIG. 3 . The pins 44 are retained in place bythe pin handle 38 being positioned within the notch 76. With the pin 44in such supporting position, the upper arm 22 is prevented from movingdownward past the pin 44 to, for example, the retracted position.Therefore, should the hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 be inadvertentlyactivated so as to attempt to lower the hoist 12 or if hydraulicpressure were to be otherwise lost, the lower arms 20, 20 and upper arms22, 22, together with the truck bed, would remain in the extendedcondition.

The procedure for lowering the hoist 12 from the extended position tothe retracted position is generally the reverse of that described above.To do so, the user, by grasping the pin handle 42 of each supplementalsupport system 14 and removing the pin handles 42 from each notch 76,moves the pins 44 from the supporting positions depicted in FIG. 3 tothe non-supporting positions of FIG. 4 . As the spring 46 biases the pin44 towards the non-supporting position when the pin handle 42 is removedfrom the notch 76, the user can easily return the pins 44 to theirnon-supporting positions. The user then, by activating the hydraulicfluid pump, can cause fluid to exit the barrel 66 of the hydrauliccylinder assembly 24. Such exit of fluid causes the piston rod 52 toretract which in turn causes the hoist 12 to move from the extendedcondition depicted in FIG. 2 to the retracted condition depicted in FIG.1 . This movement causes the truck bed to move downward so as to permit,for example, the truck to be driven safely.

The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merelyillustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to beinterpreted in a limiting sense. While there has been illustrated anddescribed what is, at present, considered to be a preferred embodimentof the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalentsmay be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the truescope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out the invention, but that the invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure andthe claims.

1. A support assembly comprising: a bracket, a blocking member, and aspring, the bracket being adapted to be fixed to a support membercomprising a through opening; the bracket comprising first and secondlegs and a cap, the cap spanning between the first and second legs; whenfixed to the support member, the bracket being adapted to retain theblocking member, at least partially, within the through opening; theblocking member structured and arranged to be axially aligned with thethrough opening when the bracket is fixed to the support member suchthat a sliding portion of the blocking member is adapted to slidinglymove within the through opening while an end of the blocking member isretained within a space defined by the bracket legs and the cap; theblocking member being adapted to be selectively moved from a supportingposition to a non-supporting position.
 2. The support assembly of claim1, wherein the blocking member is a pin.
 3. The support assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the spring comprises a helical compression spring andwherein the spring surrounds the pin such that the spring and pin areaxially aligned.
 4. The support assembly of claim 3, wherein the springis adapted to bias the blocking member towards the non-supportingposition.
 5. The support assembly of claim 2, further comprising ahandle coupled to the pin.
 6. The support assembly of claim 5, whereinat least one of the bracket legs comprises a notch adapted to receivethe handle.
 7. The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the blockingmember is in the supporting position when the handle is positionedwithin the notch.
 8. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein theblocking member is adapted to support a portion of a hoist when theblocking member is in the supporting position.
 9. The support assemblyof claim 1, wherein, when the blocking member is slidingly moved withinthe through opening, the sliding portion of the blocking member iscapable of axial rotation about a longitudinal axis of the blockingmember.
 10. A support assembly comprising; a bracket, a blocking member,a spring, and a support member, the support member comprising a throughopening, the bracket being fixed to the support member; the bracketcomprising first and second legs and a cap, the cap spanning between thefirst and second legs; the bracket being adapted to retain the blockingmember, at least partially within the through opening; the blockingmember being axially aligned with the through opening such that asliding portion of the blocking member is adapted to slidingly movewithin the through opening while an end of the blocking member isretained within a space defined by the bracket legs and the cap; theblocking member being adapted to be selectively moved from a supportingposition to a non-supporting position.
 11. The support assembly of claim10, wherein the blocking member is a pin.
 12. The support assembly ofclaim 11, wherein the spring comprises a helical compression spring andwherein the spring surrounds the pin such that the spring and pin areaxially aligned.
 13. The support assembly of claim 12, wherein thespring is adapted to bias the blocking member towards the non-supportingposition.
 14. The support assembly of claim 12, further comprising ahandle coupled to the pin.
 15. The support assembly of claim 14, whereinat least one of the bracket legs comprises a notch adapted to receivethe handle.
 16. The support assembly of claim 15, wherein the blockingmember is in the supporting position when the handle is positionedwithin the notch.
 17. The support assembly of claim 10, wherein thesupport member is a lower arm of a hoist.
 18. The support assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the blocking member supports an upper arm of the hoistwhen the blocking member is in the supporting position.
 19. The supportassembly of claim 10, wherein, when the blocking member is slidinglymoved within the through opening, the sliding portion of the blockingmember is capable of axial rotation about a longitudinal axis of theblocking member.